Geranium plant named &#39;Fisrolisa&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of geranium plant named ‘Fisrolisa’, as described and illustrated, and particularly characterized by the combined features of salmon-pink flower color with distinct white margin, relatively large, semi-spherical umbels, borne moderately low above the foliage, medium-green, relatively large leaves with distinct zonation, vigorous growth, wide, but relatively low plant habit, and moderately early flowering.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofgeranium, botanically known as Pelargonium zonale, and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name ‘Fisrolisa’.

[0002] ‘Fisrolisa’ is a product of a planned breeding program which hadthe objective of creating new geranium varieties with deep salmoncolored, semi-double flowers, and medium sized to moderately tall planthabit.

[0003] ‘Fisrolisa’ originated from a hybridization made by the inventor,Angelika Utecht in a controlled breeding program in Galdar, GranCanaria, Spain, in 1995. The female parent was an unpatented hybridseedling, no. K91-1216-3, having uniform salmon colored, single-typeflowers, medium green foliage with strong zonation, and vigorous growth.The male parent of ‘Fisrolisa’ was the patented variety ‘Fisglo’, (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 7,394), characterized by orange-red, semi-double flowers,medium-green foliage with weak zonation, and medium sized, round planthabit.

[0004] ‘Fisrolisa’ was selected as one flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated cross by Angelika Utecht in 1996 in a controlledenvironment in Galdar, Gran Canaria, Spain. The first act of asexualreproduction of ‘Fisrolisa’ was accomplished when vegetative cuttingswere taken from the initial selection in the fall of 1996 in acontrolled environment in Galdar, Gran Canaria, Spain, by, or under thesupervision of, Angelika Utecht.

[0005] Horticultural examination of plants grown from cuttings of theplant initiated in May 1998, in Hillscheid, Federal Republic of Germany,and continuing thereafter, has demonstrated that the combination ofcharacteristics as herein disclosed for ‘Fisrolisa’ are firmly fixed andare retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. Thenew cultivar reproduces true to type.

[0006] ‘Fisrolisa’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly withvariations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and daylength. The following observations, measurements, and comparisonsdescribe plants grown in Hillscheid, Germany, under greenhouseconditions which approximate those generally used in commercialpractice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The following traits have been repeatedly observed and aredetermined to be basic characteristics of ‘Fisrolisa’ in combinationdistinguish this geranium as a new and distinct cultivar:

[0008] 1. bi-colored, salmon-pink and white, semi-double flowers;

[0009] 2. medium to large, round inflorescence, initially low, later atmedium height above the foliage;

[0010] 3. medium green, relatively large, leaves with distinct zonation;

[0011] 4. vigorous growth, tall, but wide and moderately low planthabit; and

[0012] 5. early to medium spring flowering response.

[0013] Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor,the most similar in comparison to ‘Fisrolisa’ is the patented variety‘Fistantut’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,728). In comparison to ‘Fistantut’,‘Fisrolisa’ has a slightly more salmon, less pink, flower color, shorterpeduncles, larger leaves with stronger zonation, and more vigorousgrowth habit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0014] The accompanying photographic drawing shows typical flower andfoliage characteristics of ‘Fisrolisa’ with colors being as true aspossible with an illustration of this type. The drawing shows aflowering pot plant in a 14 cm container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0015] In the following description color references are made to TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (RHS). The color values andmeasurements were determined indoors from flowering plants growndeveloped in a green-house in May 2001, in Hillscheid, Germany, 10 weeksafter planting of rooted cuttings. The plants were growing in 14 cmcontainers and had not been pinched.

[0016] Classification:

[0017]Botanical.—A hybrid of the species Pelargonium zonale L'Hérit.

[0018] Inflorescence:

[0019]Type.—Umbel.

[0020]Shape.—Semi-spherical.

[0021]Average diameter.—98 mm.

[0022]Average depth.—53 mm.

[0023]Peduncle length.—108 mm.

[0024]Peduncle color.—Light green, RHS 143 B, no anthocyanin.

[0025]Pedicel, length.—26 mm.

[0026]Pedicel color.—Light green, RHS 144 A.

[0027]Number of flowers per umbel.—About 20.

[0028] Corolla:

[0029]Average diameter.—43 mm.

[0030]Form.—Semi-double.

[0031]Shape.—Round outline, occasionally flat, with a gap between upperand lower petals.

[0032]Number of petals.—7-8.

[0033]Number of petaloids.—0-2, narrow, same color as the petals.

[0034]Shape of petals.—Narrow obovate, base attenuate, upper end isrounded, margin is entire.

[0035]Size of petals.—Upper petals: Length 23-24 mm; width 20-21 mmLower petals: Length: 22-23 mm; width 22-23 mm.

[0036]Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).—Lightsalmon-pink and wide, almost white margin.

[0037]Color of upper petals.—Main part RHS 43 D, margin RHS 56 A.

[0038]Markings of upper petals.—None.

[0039]Color of lower petals.—Main part RHS 43 D, margin RHS 56 A.

[0040]Markings of lower petals.—None.

[0041]Color of lower surface of petals.—Marbled, from RHS 49 B to 49 D.

[0042]Color of sepals.—Outer surface light green, RHS 144 A to RHS 144B; inner surface light green, RHS 144 A to RHS 144 B.

[0043]Number of sepals.—5-6.

[0044]Shape of sepals.—Linear to lanceolate, acute tip, truncate base,surface with moderate pubescence, margin entire.

[0045]Size of sepals.—10-12 mm long, 4 mm wide for the largest uppersepal, 2-3 mm in width for the other sepals.

[0046] Bud (just before petals unfold):

[0047]Shape.—Elliptical.

[0048]Color (sepals).—Green, RHS 143 B to RHS 143 C.

[0049]Color (petals).—RHS 155 A.

[0050]Length.—18 mm.

[0051]Width.—12 mm.

[0052] Reproductive organs:

[0053]Androecium.—3-5 fertile anthers, filaments white, RHS 155 D,moderate pollen, orange, RHS 30 A.

[0054]Gynoecium.—One pistil per flower, style and stigma salmon-pink,RHS 43 C, 5 to 6 lobed stigma.

[0055]Fertility/seed set.—Occasionally a few seeds are developed Fruit:Oblong, about 6 mm in diameter, with rostrum (beak), total length about40 mm Seed: Oblong, 4-5 mm long, brown, RHS 177 B.

[0056]Spring flowering response period.—In Hillscheid, Germany in 2000,plants had on average 1.2 flowers opened 8 weeks after planting ofrooted cuttings.

[0057]Outdoor flower production.—Continuously flowering, the flowercount in 2000, in Hillscheid, Germany, indicated about 2.3inflorescences per plant in mid May.

[0058]Durability.—Good stability of flower color, very little fadingrelatively good rain resistance.

[0059]Lastingness of the individual flower.—About 8 days at 18° C.,about 18 days for the umbel.

[0060]Fragrance.—None.

[0061]Pest/Disease Resistance/Susceptibility.—No observations to date.

[0062] Plant: Foliage:

[0063]Shape.—Kidney-shaped to round, with closed to slightly open,cordate base, weak lobes.

[0064]Margin.—Bicrenated, somewhat wavy.

[0065]Texture.—Upper surface smooth, velvety.

[0066]Size of leaf.—101 mm wide, 75 mm long.

[0067]Color of upper surface.—Medium green, approximately RHS 137 C.

[0068]Color of zonation.—Brown, about RHS 166 A

[0069]Petioles.—50-60 mm long, 3 mm diameter, light green in color,approximately RHS 144 A.

[0070] General appearance and form:

[0071]Stem color.—Green, RHS 144 B to RHS 144 D.

[0072]Internode length.—10-15 mm.

[0073]Branching pattern.—5.5 branches.

[0074]Size of plants.—Height 13.9 cm, width 27.5 cm, as measured fromthe top of the soil (base of the main stem) to the surface of thefoliage canopy, without inflorescences.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of geranium plant named ‘Fisrolisa’, as described and illustrated herein. 